Circuit control and connection therefor



April 10, 1945. v, Lucm 2,373,248

CIRCUIT CONTROL AND CONNECTION THEREFOR Original Filed April 23, 1940.7,?a 40y 4/ x 4 IN I/EN 70 R.

28 I 2:2 I? y thereof omitted to show Patented Apr. 10, 1945 2313,24:omourr CONTROL AND CONNECTION 'rnaaaroa Louis V. Lucia,-West Hartford,Conn., assignor to The Silex Company, Hartford, Conn., a-eorporation ofConnecticut Original application April 23, 1940, Serial No,

353,908, now Patent No.

ary 5, 1943. Divided an 2,307,052, dated Jannd this application June 19,1941, Serial No. 398,803

1 Claim. (01.219-25) This invention relates to a circuit control andconnection therefor and is particularly intended for steaming andpressing irons as shown and described in the co-pending application ofFrank E. Wolcott, Serial N0. 337,279, filed May 25, 1940,

and assigned to the assignee hereto. The present application is adivision of applicants co-pending application SerialNo. 353,908, iiledApril 23, 1940, issued January 5, 1943, as Patent No. 2,307,052.

An object of the invention, as set forth herein. is to provide a novelelectric connection for the heating element and circuit control of apressing iron, which is highly desirable 'in the use of such an iron aswell as in the manufacture thereof.

A further object is to provide an electric cord connection which isfirmly anchored in the handle of a pressing iron and in such a mannerthat it may be easily assembled and economically produced.

Further objects of the invention will be more clearly understood fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. v1 is a side view, partly in central vertical section, illustratingmy invention as embodied in an electric pressing iron.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the said iron with parts the control embodiedin my invention.

' Fig. 3 is a side view in vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4showing the construction of said control and its connection in anelectrical circuit.

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

As illustrated in the drawing, the numeral 5 denotes the casing, orbody, of a pressing iron having a sole plate 8 and a handle I.

V In the construction shown, a cover plate I may be provided for sealingthe water-heating chamber 9, within the casing 5, and the said cover mayhave projections, such as l0, extending therefrom for securing thehandle 1 thereto.

The cover 8 may be extended beyond the back of the casing 5 so as toprovide in said iron a control chamber ll within which my improvedcircuit control may be contained so that it will not be subjected to thehigh heat to which thermostatic controls for such irons have heretoforethe sole plate 8 upon a surface that is adapted to support said plate ina slanted position to conform with the design of the particular ironillustrated.

An electrical contact member l3, electrically connected to the frame I2,is carried upon a shaft it that is rotatable in said frame and has ahead it, with a flat I, to which is secured an opermating knob II, withan indicating pointer i3 thereon. for rotating said shaft to positionthe contact cam ii for the degree of heat required.

A spring bar I! is secured to the bottom of said frame l2 by means of asupporting bar II which is'insulated from said frame by mica plates II;the plate 22 insulating the entire assembly I from the sole plate 8, andthe said frame, supporting bar and insulating plates all being securedinto a complete unit by means of eyelets 23 through which extend thescrews 24 that are threaded into the sole plate 5 for securingthe frameI! thereto.

The spring bar is is provided with a contact point 25, for engaging thecontact cam l3, and also with a laterallyextending arm 26 to which isthreaded an adjusting screw 21 having an insulating point 28 in contactwith a bi-metal bar 28 that is secured directly to the sole plate 6 andoperates in response to the temperature thereof as will be hereinaftermore fully .described.

The present invention particularly includes an electric connection forsaid control whereby electrical conductors, including a wire 30 which isconnected to the frame l2, and a wire 32, which is connected to the leadwire 6-2: of the heating element B-a, extend from said control throughan opening 33 in the cover 8 into a compartment 34 in the handle I, andtherefrom, through an v opening 35 in the back of said handle to theexterior of the iron so that said wires, which may be included in a cord36, may be connected to an electrical outlet.

The lead wire 6-c, at the opposite side of the heating element, may beconnected to an extension 3| on the bar 20 which is electricallyconnected to the spring bar It.

been subjected in order that sufiiciently accurate response from suchcontrols to the temperature of the sole plate may be obtained.

My improved control, as shown, for controlling an electric circuit whichsupplies current to a heating element i-a for heating the sole plate andwater chamber 3, comprises an upright frame,

I! which is mounted upon the upper surface of If desired, a sleeve 31may enclose said cord adjacent to said handle, in order to relieve thecord of undue strain, and the said sleeve may be secured to the handleby means of a head 3! which engages the peripheral portion of theopening 35 in the handle. 'A strain relief 3.9-a

may also be attached to said cord to engage the surface of the head 38and thereby anchoring said cord to the iron so as to prevent strain atthe points where the wires 8i and 82 are co nected to the control withinthe chamber 1 i.

In the embodiment illustrated, the handle 1 is preferably constructed oftwo halves which are secured to the member ill by screws 40 and retainedin rigid position by dowels ll, so as to facilitate the manufacture ofsaid handle as well as the assembly of the above described connectionwithin the chamber 34.

From the above description it will be clearly seen that I have providedan improved. novel and highly efficient cord connection for an electriccircuit control which is particularly adapted for pressing irons andwhich is highly desirable for its simplicity in assembling. as well asits resistance to abuse and wear.

It is to be understood that. while I have shown and described myinvention as embodied in a pressing iron, the same may be used invarious other types of electric heating devices without 20 departingfrom the scope thereof as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim: v

An electric hand device comprising a casing. projections on said casing.a divided handle ior said device secured to said projections, a heatingelement in said casing. and a connecting cord for said element extendingfrom said element through an opening in said casing and a portion oisaid handle to the exterior oi said casing: said handle being dividedinto two equal opposed halves each having recesses to receive saidproing a shoulder seated against the wall or said chamber the saidhandle halves each also having with said separate'recess to in the wallof said chamber for receiving said cord guard, and a peripheral shouldersurrounding said notch for abutting an anchoring flange on said guard.

LOUIS V. LUCIA; I

